Panel gluing question....
Thread Starter
3rd Gear
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Panel gluing question....
Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 79 L48 a couple months ago and I'm excited about fixing it up.
The panel between the headlights and the hood is raised so one of the headlights doesn't open properly and the hood doesn't line up. I spoke to a guy that said that the panel can be glued to the bar underneath it, but the bar would have to be removed and the rust stripped so the panel glue would adhere. Are there any easy ways to get that panel glued down without actually removing the bar? I'm also afraid it might not glue down properly and create a worse problem....Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
The panel between the headlights and the hood is raised so one of the headlights doesn't open properly and the hood doesn't line up. I spoke to a guy that said that the panel can be glued to the bar underneath it, but the bar would have to be removed and the rust stripped so the panel glue would adhere. Are there any easy ways to get that panel glued down without actually removing the bar? I'm also afraid it might not glue down properly and create a worse problem....Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Technically, he's giving you good advise. You may be able to clean up the rusted bonding surfaces on the bar without removing it. Not easy, but not impossible. Are you intending to do the work yourself, or farm it out?
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Buhl Minnesota
Hello everyone, I'm new to this forum. I just bought a 79 L48 a couple months ago and I'm excited about fixing it up.
The panel between the headlights and the hood is raised so one of the headlights doesn't open properly and the hood doesn't line up. I spoke to a guy that said that the panel can be glued to the bar underneath it, but the bar would have to be removed and the rust stripped so the panel glue would adhere. Are there any easy ways to get that panel glued down without actually removing the bar? I'm also afraid it might not glue down properly and create a worse problem....Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
The panel between the headlights and the hood is raised so one of the headlights doesn't open properly and the hood doesn't line up. I spoke to a guy that said that the panel can be glued to the bar underneath it, but the bar would have to be removed and the rust stripped so the panel glue would adhere. Are there any easy ways to get that panel glued down without actually removing the bar? I'm also afraid it might not glue down properly and create a worse problem....Any suggestions? Thanks in advance!
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
Likes: 1,482
From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Check the on line archives of the major Corvette magazines (Corvette Fever, Vette, Corvette Enthusiast) One of these did a How-To article for rebonding/replacing the headlight bar. Sorry, but I'm not sure which magazine did the article.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 2,084
Likes: 14
From: Airdrie Alberta
I changed mine on my 73
You may want to buy a new one before you start as I snapped half the bolts when I was removing my light assemblies, relays etc.
It was easier for me since my body was off and the rad support and front bumpers, lights etc were removed
I removed what was left of mine with a heat gun/scraper after marking some reference points, then cleaned the fibreglass with a light scuffing with 80grit paper. I did a few test fits of the new bar with my headlight buckets to make sure everything lined up.
I then bonded it in using Evercoat maxim Panel Adhesive(its cheap, works in a regular caulking gun, works with SMC and has amazing strength)
Once the panel was lined up with my reference marks and bonded I clamped it down using a pile of c clamps and a few pieces of 1X2 and left it for a day.
No problems after 2 years of driving it!
You may want to buy a new one before you start as I snapped half the bolts when I was removing my light assemblies, relays etc.
It was easier for me since my body was off and the rad support and front bumpers, lights etc were removed
I removed what was left of mine with a heat gun/scraper after marking some reference points, then cleaned the fibreglass with a light scuffing with 80grit paper. I did a few test fits of the new bar with my headlight buckets to make sure everything lined up.
I then bonded it in using Evercoat maxim Panel Adhesive(its cheap, works in a regular caulking gun, works with SMC and has amazing strength)
Once the panel was lined up with my reference marks and bonded I clamped it down using a pile of c clamps and a few pieces of 1X2 and left it for a day.
No problems after 2 years of driving it!
